The dynamics of physical activity in palliative care patients
Journal Title: Ortopedia Traumatologia Rehabilitacja - Year 2010, Vol 12, Issue 1
Abstract
Active and passive physical exercises in patients under palliative (long term) care in palliative wards and home hospices are a necessary means of prevention or reduction of pulmonary complications, disorders of respiratory function, vascular complications, disorders of lymphatic and venous function, and musculoskeletal dysfunction. The goal of this study was to assess the dynamics of physical activity in patients under long term care. Material and method. The study group consisted of 60 patients staying in a palliative care ward or a home hospice. The dynamics of physical ability was assessed with the Karnofsky Performance Scale, and the quality of life was evaluated using the 6-point scale of the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist. The study was conducted over eight weeks, with patient information recorded once a week. Results. Over consecutive weeks, physical activity increased by 10-20% in 20% of the participants, did not change in 36% of the participants, and 44% of the study group showed a decrease in activity. We found an increase in the quality of life in the consecutive weeks of the study and a correlation with the physical activity level. A higher score on the Karnofsky Scale corresponded with a higher quality of life measured in the six-point scale of the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist. Significant correlations were found both for specific weeks and for the entire study period. Conclusions. 1. The rehabilitation of palliative care patients resulted in a significant improvement in the quality of life. 2. The results indicate that there is a need to provide palliative patients with optimum rehabilitation regardless of their pre-rehabilitation clinical status. 3. The Karnofsky Performance Scale and the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist are strongly correlated with each other, which makes them robust investigative instruments for evaluating palliative patients.
Authors and Affiliations
Teresa Pop, Jolanta Adamek
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP56988
- DOI -
- Views 115
- Downloads 0
Assessment of Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients' Satisfaction with Thoracolumbar Brace Treatment
Background. Bracing is the most efficient non-surgical method of treatment for idiopathic scoliosis patients with 25-45° curvature according to Cobb. The aim of the present study was to assess compliance of idiopathic sc...
Results of operative treatment of hip fractures in patients over 90
Background: The number of people living more than 90 years is increasing. This population is at high risk of osteoporotic hip fracture and the rates of a good outcome after surgical treatment are lower than in younger pa...
Przyśrodkowo-rzepkowy fałd maziówkowy
Wstęp. Praca poświęcona jest patofizjologii, częstości występowania oraz znaczeniu klinicznemu fałdu przyśrodkowo-rzepkowego błony maziowej kolana. Występowanie tej struktury, jako pozostałości z życia płodowego jest zja...
Przeszczep korowo-gąbczasty uszypułowany na pasmie grzbietowej torebki stawowej w leczeniu stawu rzekomego kości łódeczkowatej. Studium przypadku
W poniższej publikacji prezentujemy jedną z metod leczenia stawu rzekomego bliższego bieguna kości łódeczkowatej. Wykorzystuje się w niej unaczyniony przeszczep korowo-gąbczastego uszypułowany na pasmie grzbietowej toreb...
Changes in the hip migration percentage and motor function in patients with cerebral palsy treated surgically by multilevel soft tissue release – preliminary report
SUMMARYBackground: Disturbed muscle balance secondary to upper motor neuron damage in the course of infantile cerebral palsy (ICP) leads to the development of progressive morphological changes in joints, especially the h...